Chapter 90 Not Your Subordinate
“You don’t believe the report, do you? Then hand it over,” Mrs. Wheeler snapped, reaching for the paper in Ginny’s hands. Her grip tightened around Ginny’s arm, trying to yank the document free.
Ginny held firm, afraid the woman might get too aggressive and end up hurting them both. She didn’t like anyone in the Wheeler family, but she wasn’t looking to start another scene.
“I just want to verify the report,” Ginny said calmly. “See if it’s been tampered with. Because I trust my friend. And I trust what I saw last night.”
Her voice was steady, gaze locked on Mrs. Wheeler’s face. And for a moment, just a moment, the older woman’s eyes faltered- something guilty flickering in them before she quickly masked it.
“So what–you think I’m lying to you now?” she said, feigning offense. “This is one of the best hospitals in the city. Why would they lie for me?”
“I never said the hospital would lie. I said the doctor who signed this report might,” Ginny replied, cool as ever. “Everyone knows the Wheeler family is the wealthiest in California. If you want something done, you don’t even have to ask twice. But me? I’m just an orphan. No family. No connections. No one pulling strings on my behalf.
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“If I were that doctor… I’d probably help you too.”
Lucky Draw
For some reason, when Ginny mentioned being an orphan, something twisted briefly in Mrs. Wheeler’s chest. But just as quickly, she pushed it down.
“Fine,” she said. “Go ahead. Verify it. While you’re at it, maybe the doctor can explain how you caused my daughter to lose the ability to ever have children again.”
Her voice rose suddenly–sharpened by fury, by something else -bitterness, maybe. Hatred.
The shift in emotion caught Ginny off guard, and she instinctively stepped back, startled.
“That’s not possible,” she said, before she could stop herself.
There was no pregnancy. Everything that happened last night had been staged. Melody wouldn’t go so far as to gamble her entire future just to trap Ginny in a lie.
Mrs. Wheeler had to be bluffing. It had to be another piece of this elaborate performance.
But before Ginny could gather her thoughts, Chandler emerged from the hospital room. The moment he saw her, something dark flashed across his face.
She opened her mouth, unsure what to say, but he was already
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striding toward her.
–
Lucky Draw
“You told me she faked it,” he said, grabbing her wrist, voice low and cold. “You said it was all an act. So tell me why is she no longer able to have children? Are you saying she threw her entire future away for a setup? Why would she do that?
“Ginny, when did you become so cruel? I didn’t say anything before–not when the rumors started, not when the gossip spread. I thought I knew you. But now? Now you won’t even tell the truth. I’m done. I’m really done.”
His grip on her arm tightened, sending a sharp bolt of pain through her.
Tears welled in Ginny’s eyes from the sting.
“Let
go
of me,” she hissed. “I told you, I didn’t push her. Believe it or not, that’s the truth.”
She fought to break free, and finally, Chandler let go–so abruptly she lost her balance.
She’d been pulling against him, and now with nothing holding her back, she stumbled hard, falling backward.
Mrs. Wheeler and Chandler both reached out instinctively, but it was too late.
Her elbow slammed against the floor. Pain shot through her,
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sharp enough to suck the air from her lungs.
Chandler took a step toward her, reaching out again.
→ Lucky Draw
Ginny recoiled. She didn’t want his hand. Not now. Not again.
She’d had enough of the cycle–strike, soothe, strike, soothe. One slap followed by one sweet word.
She wasn’t going to play along anymore,
“So what is it you want from me now?” she asked, voice cold and stripped bare.
Her eyes met his, and for the first time, there was no warmth. No softness. Just emptiness. Distance.
Chandler faltered, heart pounding. He opened his mouth, but before he could speak, he glanced at Mrs. Wheeler–at her red–rimmed eyes, her shaking hands—and snapped back into himself.
“Since Melody lost her ability to carry children because of you,” he said tightly, “then you’ll make it up to her. With your womb.”
“What?” Ginny’s voice was barely a whisper, stunned.
She thought she’d misheard him. But when he repeated it, word for word, the disbelief on her face melted into a bitter, quiet laugh.
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***) Lucky Draw
“Do you even hear yourself?” she asked, shaking her head. “You’re going to destroy my life over one sentence from her?”
“Ginny,” he said, teeth clenched, “this isn’t a lie. She can’t have children anymore. That’s a fact. And it’s because of you. So you’ll pay the price.
“If you agree to this, I’ll speak to the Wheeler family. I’ll convince them to drop it. No charges, no more trouble.”
Ginny stared at him for a long moment. And then she laughed again, dry and sharp.
“So after all this,” she said slowly, “I’m supposed to thank you for your kindness?”
She stepped forward, voice tightening. “If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t even be in this mess. I told you–I was willing to set you free. I begged you to go to the woman you loved. You said
- no.
“And now something’s gone wrong, and you want to dump all the blame on me? Why? Why is it you get all the happiness, and I get all the fallout?
“I used to love you, Chandler. That’s why I took everything you threw at me. That’s why I kept standing, no matter how badly you hurt me. But I don’t love you anymore..And that means you don’t get to tell me what to do.
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